The current call from the European Commission requires a minimum of three projects and no more than five, with a deadline of Thursday, February 2nd.

Independent production companies which have been established for three years or more, and which have recently produced an internationally distributed project are encouraged to apply.

Feature films, animation and creative documentaries intended for theatrical release must have a run time of at least sixty minutes. Where projects are intended for television as a one-off or series, or digital platforms, the minimum run times are as follows:

Drama: 90mins

Animation: 24mins

Creative documentaries: 50 mins

Each project is eligible for support of €10,000 to €60,000, where this does not exceed 50% of the total project cost. Maximum support is capped at between €70,000 and €200,000.

A fresh aspect of the 2017 scheme is the ability to include a short film as an additional project to the abovementioned slate, which is no longer than twenty minutes and which supports emerging talent. Where a short film is included in an application, the maximum contribution rises to €210,000.

A condition of funding is that principal photography must be scheduled within eight months of the application date.

Previous Slate Funding Recipients
There have been fifteen slates awarded to twelve different companies since MEDIA came under the Creative Europe Programme in 2014, with a total of €2,484,737 allocated.

Companies which have received funding twice in this time are: Fastnet Films, Treasure Entertainment and Crossing The Line Productions.

Recent film projects which have boasted great success at home and abroad include ‘The Lobster’ (Element Pictures), ‘Viva’ (Treasure Entertainment) and the upcoming ‘Handsome Devil’, also from Treasure, which has yet to release to cinemas.